Notice of Privacy

Notice Of Privacy Policies And Practices

Dear Patient ~ This notice describes how information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully. The privacy of your medical information is important to us.

INTRODUCTION

At Health Central Women’s Care, P.A., we are committed to treating and using protected health information about you responsibly. This notice describes the personal information we collect, and how and when we use or disclose that information. It also describes your rights as they relate to your protected health information. This notice is effective April 14, 2003 and applies to all protected health information as defined by federal regulations.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR MEDICAL RECORD / HEALTH INFORMATION

Each time you visit Health Central Women’s Care, P.A. a record of your visit is made. Typically, this record contains information about your visit including examination, diagnosis, test results, treatments as well as other pertinent healthcare data. This information, often referred to as your health or medical record, serves as a:

Basis for planning you care and treatment

Means of communication with other health professionals involved in your care

Legal document outlining and describing the care you received

A tool that you, or another payer (your insurance company( will use to verify that services billed were actually provided

An education tool for medical health providers

A source for medical research

Basis for public health officials who might use this information to asses and/or improve state as well as national healthcare standards

A source of data for planning and / or marketing

A tool that we can reference to ensure the highest quality of care and patient satisfaction

Understanding what is in your record and how your health information is used helps to ensure its accuracy, determine what entities have access to your health information, and make an informed decision when authorizing the disclosure of this information to other individuals.

YOUR RIGHTS

You have certain rights under the federal privacy standards. These include:

The right to request restrictions on the use and disclosure of your protected health information

The right to receive confidential communications concerning your medical condition and treatment

The right to inspect and copy your protected health information

The right to amend or submit corrections toy our protected health information

The right to receive an accounting of how and to whom your protected health information has been disclosed

The right to receive a printed copy of this notice

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Health Central Women’s Care, P.A. is required to:

Maintain the privacy of your health information

Provide you with this notice as to our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to information we collect and maintain about you

As permitted by law, we reserve the right to amend or modify our policies and practices. These changes in our policies and practices may be required by changes in federal and state laws and regulations. Whatever the reason for these revisions, we will provide you with a revised notice on your next office visit. The revised policies and practices will be applied to all protected health information that we maintain

We will not use or disclose your health information without your authorization, except as described in this notice

We will also discontinue to use or disclose your health information after we received a written revocation of the authorization according to procedures included in the authorization

HOW WE MAY USE AND/OR DISCLOSE YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

We will use your health information for treatment. Your health information may be used by staff members or disclosed to other health care professionals for the purpose of evaluating your health, diagnosing medical conditions, and providing treatment. For example: results of laboratory tests and procedures will be available in your medical record to all health professionals who may provide treatment or who may be consulted by staff members.

We will use your information for payment. Your health plan may request and receive information on dates of service, the services provided, and the medical condition being treated in order to pay for services rendered to you.

We will use your information for regular health operations. Your health information may be used as necessary to support the day-to-day activities and management of Health Central Women’s Care, P.A. For example: information on the services you received may be used to support budgeting and financial reporting, and activities to evaluate and promote quality.

Business Associates. In some instances, we have contracted separate entities to provide services to us. These “associates” require your health information in order to accomplish the tasks that we ask them to provide. Some examples of these “business associates” might be a billing service, collection agency, answering services and computer software/hardware provider.

Communication with Family. Due to the nature of our field, we will use our best judgment when disclosing health information to a family member, other relatives, or any other person that is involved in your care or that you have authorized to receive this information. Please inform the practice when you do not wish a family member or other individual to have authorization to receive your information.

Research / Teaching / Training. We may use your information for the purpose of research, teaching, and training.

Healthcare Oversight. Federal law requires us to release your information to an appropriate health oversight agency, public health authority or attorney, or other federal/state appointee if there are circumstances that require us to do so.

Public Health Reporting. You health information may be disclosed to public health agencies as required by law.

Law Enforcement. Your health information may be disclosed to law enforcement agencies, without your permission, to support government audits and inspections, to facilitate law-enforcement investigations, and to comply with government mandated reporting.

Appointment Reminders. The practice may use your information to remind you about upcoming appointments. Typically, appointment reminders are sent by mail in a closed envelope, or, a brief non-specific message may be left on your answering machine. If you don’t approve of these methods please inform the practice.

Other Uses and Disclosures. Disclosure of you health information or its use for any purpose other than those listed above requires your specific written authorization. If you change you mind after authorizing a use or disclosure of your information you may submit a written revocation of the authorization. However, your decision to revoke the authorization will not affect or undo any use or disclosure of information that occurred before you notified us of your decision.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REPORT A PROBLEM

If you have complaints, questions or would like additional information regarding this notice of the privacy practices of health Central Women’s Care, P.A. please contact:

If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, please contact the aforementioned practice Privacy Official, or, you may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. There will be no retaliation for filing a complaint with either the practice’s Privacy official or with the Office for Civil Rights. The address for the Office for Civil Rights is listed below:

OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS
U.S. Department of Health and human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Room 509F, HHH Building
Washington, D.C., 20201
A copy of this notice is available upon request

The Health Central Women's Care obstetrics, fertility and gynecology practice was born more than 20 years ago out of a great desire to deliver comprehensive care to DFW women, particularly in Frisco, Plano and Dallas, TX.

Gynecology

Fertility

The Health Central Women's Care obstetrics, fertility and gynecology practice was born more than 20 years ago out of a great desire to deliver comprehensive care to DFW women, particularly in Frisco, Plano and Dallas, TX.